Facing Life Together

Reverend Garry and Beccy McGlinchy adopted their son Tate in 2012, not knowing then that the scared and uncertain boy joining their family would grow into the big-hearted, self-sufficient man he is today. Tate faced a hard road as a child in the foster care system, and his past made early interactions and bonding with his new parents slightly more difficult. The family moved from Virginia to California for one year until Garry was called back to another parish in Virginia. “Our move really helped Tate to understand we weren’t going to leave him behind. He started to realize that there was stability and trust between us,” Garry said.

Now a thriving 17-year-old, Tate, who hated school as a child, is a voracious reader and taking an honors course in high school. Tate is not limited by his diagnosis of Asperger syndrome. He is constantly amazing his parents with his gifts for technology (he is currently building his own server) and piano (he doesn’t read music, but plays songs by ear). He is involved in the community and volunteers regularly at the local library and at the children’s church.

More so than his talents, Tate’s resilience, compassion, and heart is truly what amazes his parents. “Tate shows his resilience through the way he loves others,” said a teary-eyed Garry. “He has a huge heart and stands up for the little guy. I can’t think of anything that can make a father prouder.” The McGlinchys are open to fostering to adopt again, knowing Tate would love the opportunity to use his past to help another child going through experiences similar to the ones he has faced. In December, the McGlinchys will celebrate 20 years of marriage and in all the years they have been married, they are confident that their decision to foster-to-adopt Tate is the best one they could have made.